f9nv 


Duke  University  Libranes 

Watchman!  what 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #528 

DTTlDbmOY 

•"""'111 


-No.  19. 

"WATCHMAN!  WHAT  OP 
THE  NIGHT  I" 

A  "^ORD  OF  CHEER  TO  A  SON  IN  THE  ARMY 


Eighteen  months  ago,  you  left  the  parental  roof,  followed 
bj  a  fether's  and  mother's  blessing,  and  bathed  in  the  tears 
of  loving  sisters.  In  answer  to  their  prayers,  regularly  of- 
fered .for  "  brother,''  you  have  been  mercifully  cared  for  by 
your  Heayeuly  Father,  and  thanks  to  His  name,  your  life 
and  health  have  been  thus  far  preserved.  More  than  all, 
you  have,  according  to  the  testimony  of  your  companions, 
been  enabled  by  Divine  grace  to  maintain  your  Christian 
character,  and  while  doing  your  duty  as  a  soldier  of  your 
country,  have  not  forgotten  your  duty  as  a  soldier  of  the 
cross.  In  the  meantime,  your  sainted  mother  has  finished 
her  course  on  earth,  and  has  been  one  year  in  that  heaven 
*  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  where  the 
weary  are  at  rest."  Her  pure  spirit  before  the  throne  of  > 
God,  and  the  prayers  of  those  she  left  behind,  are  thus  en- 
gaged for  your  continuance  in  the  Divine  favor.  Liit  me, 
then,  say  a  few  words  to  my  dear  boy,  by  way  of  encourage- 
ment* They  are  put  in  print,  because  there  are  in  our  no- 
ble army  no  doubt  many  in  circumstances  similar  to  your 
own,  an(^  with  God's  blc,>sinr.  ''  -  ---  be  profitable  to 
■  Lorn  likewise. 


2  •'  WATCHMAN  !     WHAT    OF    THE    NIGU T  V" 

/ 

First,  I  will  say,  tliat  the  hearts  of  Christians  through- 
out our  Southern  Confederacy  have  been  greatly  cheered 
by  knowing  that  a  deep  religious  influence  is  pervading  our 
&Tmy  at  the  present  time.     Nothing  like  it  has  ever  been 
witnessed  before  in  the  history  of  wars  and  camp  life. — 
This  has  been  due,  under   God,  to  the  faithful  labors  of 
Christ's  servants,  and  to  the  noble  example  of  some  of  our 
commanding  officers.     These  have  been  raised  up  ty  &  kind 
Providence  for  the  double  purpose  of  ensuring  success  to 
our  righteous  cause,  and  of  vindicating  the  truth  and  faith- 
fulniess  of  our  covenant-keeping  God.     That  man-would  be 
wo»'se  than  an  infidel,  who  did  not  see  the  hand  of  God  in 
giving  us  at  this  time  a  President  who  consthntly  recog- 
nizes His  hand  in  our  national  affairs  ;  wto,  in  the  hour  of 
darkness  and  disaster.  Las   been  prompt  in  callitig  thij  na- 
tion to  humiliation  and  prayer ;  and  in  the  day  of  deliver- 
ance has  been  equally  prompt  in  calli»g  our  people  to 
thanksgiving  and  praise.     And  who  has  not  been  struck 
with  the  singular  propriety  and  felicity  of  the  language  of 
his  proclamations?      What  soldier's — what   Christian's — 
what  patriot's  heart  has  not  been  moved  by  his  eloquent 
address  to  the  troops  in  the  Peninsula,  closing  with  those 
words  worthy  to  be  printed  in  letters  of  gold — "  Defenders 
of  a  just  cause,  ttiay  God  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping !" 
And  who  can  read  the  dispatches  of  that  Christian  hero, 
"  Stonewall "   Jackson,  announcing  his  brilliant  successes, 
without  thanking  God  Jbr  having  given  us  such  a  command- 
er.    At  one  time  his  simple  announcement  is — "  God  has 
mercifully  crowned  our  arms  with  success."     At  another 
time  he  says :  ",  By  God's  blessing  we  gained  a  signal  vic- 
tory to-day." 

Hear  also  our  distinguished  commander-in-chief  aunoun- 


''"  VTATCHMAN  1    WHAT    Of    THE    NIGHT  ^''  6 

ing  the  brilliant  yictory  at  Manassas  on  the  28tb  of  August, 
with  the  same  devout  recognition  of  the  Divine  hand,  and 
saying — "  To  God  and  to  the  valor  of  our  troops,  a  nation's 
gratitude  is  due." 

All  of  these  things  have  a  meaning ;  and  our  people  ac- 
cept them  as  a  token  of  God's  favor  towards  our  cause ; 
and  of  our  final  deliverance  from  our  unnatural  and  cruel 
enemies.  Were  it  not  so,  they  would  be  less  hopeful  of 
success  against  the  mighty  odds  of  numbers  and  appliances 
of  war  which  the  North  has  at  its  command.  "When  God 
tells  us  in  his  Word,  that  "  one  shall  chase  a  thousand,  and 
two  shall  put  ten  thousand  to  flight,"  he  does  not  mean  it 
of  every  class  of  men,  but  of  the  gcdii/  and  praying  man, 
and  this  not  in  their  own  strength,  but  by  His  mighty 
power.  'Take  courage,  then, 'my  dear  boy,  and  aU  other 
soldiers  engaged  in  your  country's  defence!  "If  God  be 
for  us,  who  can  be  against  us  ?"  A  pOet  has  said  "  thrice 
is  he  armed  who  hath  his  quarrel  just;"  but.  Paul  in  the 
Cth  chapter  of  Ephesians  tells  us  of  a  better  armor  even 
than  that — "  Wherefore  take  unto  you  the  whole  armor  of 
Gudj  that  ye  may  be  able  to  withstand  in  the  evil  day,  and, 
having  done  all,  to  stand.  Stand,  therefore,  having  your 
loins  girt  about  with  truth,  and  having  on  the  breastplate 
of  righteousness,  and  your  feet  shod  with  the  preparation 
of  the  gospel  of  peace:  above  all  taking  the  shield  of  faith, 
wherewith  ye  shall  be  able  to  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of 
the  wicked.  And  take  the  helmet  of  salvation,  and  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  T7ord  of  God,  praying 
with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in  the  Spirit,  and  watch- 
mg  ther&unto  with  all  perseverance."  Believe  with  Davidj 
that  "  the  Lord  of  Hosts  -is  with  us,  the  God  of  Jacob  is 
cur  refuge,"  and  you  will  then  be  able  to  say  with  that 


4  "watchman!    what    of    TMt    NIfiHT?" 

man   of  war,  and  3'et  true  child  of  God — "  though  an  hoat 
should  encamp  against  me,  my  heart  will  not  fear." 

You  and  your  comrades  in  arms  are  your  country's  pre- 
cious jewels,  and  while  "  we  wait  to  welcome  you  home,' 
we  are  above  all  anxious  that  you  should  be  returned  to  us 
untarnished  by  vices  of  any  kind.  Kemeraber  that  the 
most  heroic  courage,  and  the  most  devoted  patriotism,  al- 
though the  highest  of  worldly  virtues,  do  not  constitute 
Religion.  These  may  serve  to  save  your  country  from  peril, 
but  will  not  of  themselves  save  your  souls.  It  is  only  tho 
blood  of  Christ  shed  for  sinners,  and  faith  in  that  blood, 
that  can  save  any  one  of  you.  Then  keep  your  eyes  fixed 
on  his  cross,  trust  in  His  merits,  and  He,  the  captain  of 
your  salvation,  will  bring  you  off  conquerors,  and  more 
than  ^conquerors.  May  a  merciful  Ood  continue  you  in 
health  of  body  and  soul ;  and  may  He  who  rules  in  the  ar- 
mies of  heaven,  rule  in  our  array,  and  in  the  hearts  of  all 
our  people! 


THE  PROFFERED  SUBSTITUTE. 


In  these  days  of  warfare  this  term  has  become  so  familiars 
that  even  our  little  children  can  tell  that  it  means  one  who 
takes  the  place  of  another,  and  in  every  respect  answers 
the  same  purpose.  Many  of  our  countrj-meu,  during  the 
present  war,  have  been  very  solicitous  to  get  substitutes. 
Many  a  poor,  infirm,  and  diseased  soldier  has  pined  away, 
and  died  in  our  hospitals,  because  unablo  to  procure  one  to 
fill  his  place.  Many  hard  earned  dollars  have  been  cheer- 
fully expended,  in  getting  substitutes  for  the  few  more  for- 
tunate ones  who  have  returned  to  be  cared  for  at  homo  5 
and  to  cheer  their  desolate  families.  And  who  but  those 
who  have  realized  it,  can  have  an  adequate  idea  of  the  self- 
denial,  the  rigid  economy,  and  draining  of  the  widow's 
purse,  to  the  very  last  copper,  to  obtain  one  to  fill  the  pkce 
of  her  delicate  and  tenderly  nurtured  boy,  "  the  only  son 
of  his  mother !''  The  substitutes  for  this  war  are  very  ex" 
pensive,  and  often  prove  faithless.  A  poor  man  has  to  give 
nearly  all  he  possesses,  thereby  reducing  his  feeble  wife,  and 
helpless  little  children  to  extreme  poverty,  that  he  may 
stay,  and  toil  with  them  day  by  day  for  their  daily  bread- 
But  there  is  a  sithstitufe,  of  which  all  can  avail  themselves 
and  which  we  wish  to  recommend  to  all  our  toil  worn,  and 
sufiering  soldiers ;  especially  to  the  sick,  the  wounded  and 
the  dying.     Dear  Soldier,  the  Substitute  of  which  we  wish 


to  tell  you,  offers  himself  .to  you,  without  money  and  with- 
out price  !  Nor  will  he  prove  a  deserter.  He  has  already 
filled  your  place  ;  l^aring  lived  a  life  of  perfect  obedience  to 
God,  and  fulfilled  his  law  to  a  tittle  for  you.  And  as  your 
Substitute,  he  has  borne  the  penalty  of  that  law,  for  your 
transgressions.  Will  you  accept  him  ?  Oh,  listen  to  his 
gracious  invitations  :  "  Look  unto  me^  and  be  ye  saved,  all 
the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  and  again  he  says,  "  Seek  .ye  the 
Lord  while  he  may  be  found,  call  ye  upon  him  while  he  is 
near.  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  wayp!,  and  the  unrighte- 
ous man  liis  thoughts,  and  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord» 
and  he  loill  have  mercy  upon  him  ;  and  to  our  God,  for  he 
will  abundantly  pardon." 

The  Bible  abounds  in  precious  promises  and  invitations  of 
mercy,  to  those  who  sincerely  desire  s.alvntion.  ..  Then  I 
would  urge  you  to  "  search  the  Scriptures."  And  may  he> 
who  freely  offered  to  become  your  substitute,  bear  the  pun- 
ishment of  your  sins,  and  work  out  for  you  a  perfect  righte- 
ousness, in  which  the  piercing  eye  of  holiness  can  discern 
no  spot  or  blemish  !  That  he  may  enable  you  to  accept  him 
on  his  own  gracious  terms,  is  the  sincere  desire  of. 


iU    FROli-EPxED    SUBSTITUr^:, 


MERCY  FOR  THE  CHIEF  OF  SINNERS, 

Depth  of  mercy  ! — can  there  bo 

Mercy  still  reserved  for  me  ?    ~ 

Can  my  God  his  wrath  forbear  ?  # 

Me,  the  chief  of  sinners,  spare  ? 

I  have  scorned  the  Son  of  God, 
Trampled  on  his  precious  blood, 
Would  not  hearken  to  his  calls. 
Grieved  him  by  a  thousand  falls. 

Lord,  incline  me  to  repent ; 
■  fcfc*  i»c  iiow'Tny  fall  lament— 
"Deeply  my  revolt  deplore, 

Weep,  believe,  and  sin  no  more. 

Still  for  me  the  Saviour  stands. 

Shows  his   wounds,  and  spreads  his  hands  ; 

God  is  love  !  I  know,  I  feel ; 

Jesus  weeps,  and  loves  me  still. 


*' 


V 


AN  WHirt-  (ft  THE  Ml 

WATCHMAN  WHAT  OF  THE  NRJii 

Watcbman  tell  us  of  the  night, 
What  its  signs  pf  promise  are. 

Traveler,  o'er  ron  raountaiirs  height. 

\  See  that  glory-bearaifig  star! 
•Watchman,  does  its  beauteous  ray 
Aught  of  joy  or  hope  Icretell  ? 

Trareler,  yes  :  it  brings  the  day, 
Promised  day  of  Israel. 

Watchman,  tell  us  of  the  nlg'U  : 
Higher  yet  that  star  ascend  <. 


Watcliman,  will  its  beam^  alone-. 

Gild  the  spot  that  give  tfiem  birth  : 
Traveler,  ages  are  its  own : 

See  !  it  bursts' o'er  all  the  eaith  ! 

Watchman,  tell  us  of  the  night, 

For  the  morning  seems  to  dawn. 
Traveler,  darkness  takes  it  flight. 

Doubt  and  terror  are  withdrawn. 
Watchman,  let  thy  wanderings  cease  5 

Hie  thee  to  th}^  quiet  home. 
Traveler,  lo !  the  Prince  of  Peace, 

Lo  !  the  Son  of  God  is  come  ! 


PRKSBYTERIAN    COMMITTEE    OF  PUBLICATION,  IUCHMn> 


HoUinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


